Back in August there was discusssion about Diamond Valley Lake (which is to open October 3) being off-limit to any body contact. Apparently, the MWD has plans for a second lake that will be 1000 acres nearby. That lake will be open for all recreation activity prohibited on Diamond Valley Lake (like wakeboarding!). This second lake will cost about $200 million, and $58 million has already been set aside. Of course, the environmentalists are opposed to the plans the MWD has to raise that money (develop lots near the lake and sell houses) as that would contribute to "urban sprawl"

I am so sick of environmentalists. Do you know that the EPA is on Camp Pendleton all of the time.

A few facts as to what the EPA has done to our training: We are not allowed to dig fighting holes on camp pend. We are not allowed to drive HMMWV's off of the roads. We are not allowed to walk under trees. We have to ask the EPA to come inspect an area that we want to train in to let us know what we can and cant do - further, they come and inpect after the exercise and start handing out fines for things like stepping on an endangered weed (no kidding) The environmentalist have been trying to make Camp Pend and environmental preserve where we would not be allowed to train here at all (but builing housing developements just outside the gate is fine).

This B.S. is costing lives of military people in the defense of the very people who hate us so much!

The list goes on and on. I am convinced that they hate the military. They obviously hate people with boats too.

Doug, one unfortunate correction: I don't think the "water contact" lake will be 1000 acres. I believe it will be closer to something like 70. I might be wrong, but that's what I was told by one of MWD's people.

I've made a few phone calls on the DVL matter. Once again, the Orange County water people seem to be the ones espousing the most radical environmental stuff.

Jim - I experienced that too in the Guard, but I had no idea the EPA was doing that now on regular bases! When I was in the Minnesota Guard the state DNR was a big PITA, but we were still able to go off road and run over a few trees once in a while. I am sorry to see the EPA has restricted so much at Pendleton as it definitely endangers our men.

The article says the lake is going to be 1,000 acres---given that Diamond Valley Lake is huge and very restricted, would be interesting to see what restrictions they could dream up for this second lake....or what the point of a second lake nearby would be.

Oh, and another article in a paper today complained that Diamond Valley lake has become a "rich persons" lake, since only "rich people" can afford the fees that will be charged for putting a boat on the lake..

Doug, online the article from the paper was edited quite a bit. Here's the part of the article that's key:

"The profits from the sale would relieve ratepayers from paying for a recreation area proposed on more than 1,000 acres just east of Diamond Valley Lake. The recreation area will be centered by a secondary lake for swimming and other aquatic activities banned in the reservoir."

The secondary lake proposal is for a 69 acre pond/lake; which will not accomodate wakeboarding. The 1000 acres is for the entire recreation area, the lake is a very small part of that. Below is a portion that was edited. I wish it could be better news. Like you, when I first read that I thought just maybe the wakeboard community might get something but unfortunately it is not to be.